This has long been a fascination for me - I like the idea of being able to carry a fixed blade in my pocket.
Fixed blades have the obvious advantage of no worries about the blade folding - and therefore the strength or otherwise of the lock.
But the obvious (also) disadvantage is their sheer length.
Most fixed blades that are pocket sized are normally much smaller or have noticably shorter blades than an easily pocketable folding knife.
The most obviously pocket sized fixed blades that I have are the long discontinued David Boye Basic 1 - all metal knife very flat and compact - but with lots of cutting ability for its size.
The other one is the much less expensive AG Russell WoodsWalker - with its very clever hip-pocket sheath. Even though the blade is short - it does have a reasonably long handle - at $20 with the hip-pocket sheath this is a favorite for lots of people. The hip-pocket sheath is the recommended one for the Bark River Mikro- and Mini- Canadian.
The Basic 1 was based on one of David Boye's long time favorite designs - his 2" dropped-edge - they come with conventional sheaths - but because of their overall size they are still just pocketable. A better sheath might be one without the flap-cover - and with a pocket clip attached to the sheath.........
This brings me to pocketABLE vs. full in-pocket carry.
Larger small fixed blades can be carried in hip-pocket sheaths. As one can see the BlackJack "Small" is not that small - it is actually quite normal sized for a smaller conventional fixed blade - but its also clever hip-pocket sheath allows me to carry this knife in my hip-pocket - albeit with the handle end protruding.
My favorite Hendrix #11 and #13 both can fit a be carried in the same BlackJack sheath. The #11 is a bit loose without jamming down a bit more - but I am a bit concerned about the knife eventually cutting through the stitching - the #13 with its guard is a bit more secure without jamming down.
However the whole point of this exercise is showing that smaller fixed blades can be pocket carried in a hip-pocket type sheath. One might not be able to pick up one that simply fits - but one could easily make or get one made.
Lastly the Bud Nealy MCS - Multi-Carry-System allows his fixed blades to be carried in multiple ways - there is a "clip" like piece of kydex that attaches to the sheath which allows it to hang from a pocket right-way or upside down on the outside - and obviously the rightway up inside the pocket. One could easily attach a piece of leather or stiff-ish material to use the MCS sheath like a hip-pocket sheath....... The variations go on... limited only by our imagination?
Show us your pocket(able) fixed blades and carrying systems.
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
Fixed blades have the obvious advantage of no worries about the blade folding - and therefore the strength or otherwise of the lock.
But the obvious (also) disadvantage is their sheer length.
Most fixed blades that are pocket sized are normally much smaller or have noticably shorter blades than an easily pocketable folding knife.
The most obviously pocket sized fixed blades that I have are the long discontinued David Boye Basic 1 - all metal knife very flat and compact - but with lots of cutting ability for its size.
The other one is the much less expensive AG Russell WoodsWalker - with its very clever hip-pocket sheath. Even though the blade is short - it does have a reasonably long handle - at $20 with the hip-pocket sheath this is a favorite for lots of people. The hip-pocket sheath is the recommended one for the Bark River Mikro- and Mini- Canadian.
The Basic 1 was based on one of David Boye's long time favorite designs - his 2" dropped-edge - they come with conventional sheaths - but because of their overall size they are still just pocketable. A better sheath might be one without the flap-cover - and with a pocket clip attached to the sheath.........
This brings me to pocketABLE vs. full in-pocket carry.
Larger small fixed blades can be carried in hip-pocket sheaths. As one can see the BlackJack "Small" is not that small - it is actually quite normal sized for a smaller conventional fixed blade - but its also clever hip-pocket sheath allows me to carry this knife in my hip-pocket - albeit with the handle end protruding.
My favorite Hendrix #11 and #13 both can fit a be carried in the same BlackJack sheath. The #11 is a bit loose without jamming down a bit more - but I am a bit concerned about the knife eventually cutting through the stitching - the #13 with its guard is a bit more secure without jamming down.
However the whole point of this exercise is showing that smaller fixed blades can be pocket carried in a hip-pocket type sheath. One might not be able to pick up one that simply fits - but one could easily make or get one made.
Lastly the Bud Nealy MCS - Multi-Carry-System allows his fixed blades to be carried in multiple ways - there is a "clip" like piece of kydex that attaches to the sheath which allows it to hang from a pocket right-way or upside down on the outside - and obviously the rightway up inside the pocket. One could easily attach a piece of leather or stiff-ish material to use the MCS sheath like a hip-pocket sheath....... The variations go on... limited only by our imagination?
Show us your pocket(able) fixed blades and carrying systems.
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
No pics at this time, and quite frankly, it is one of the first knives I ever made, so don't hold your breath on those pictures! :barf:
) and really enjoy the knife.
